Portable humidifier



Feb. 16, 1937. H. H. HANFT PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 25, 1934 H2430H Han/'23 Cal Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICEPORTABLE HUMIDIFIER 1 Claim.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel and unusuallyefficient mechanism for moistening air.

A further object is to provide a portable device whereby moisture-ladenair is delivered free of water particles of appreciable size.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the followingspecification and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the best form ofmy device at present known to me:

Figure 1 is a central, vertical section through the outer casing, welland motor support and showing the interior mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the well and baffle there- 1n;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the water pump, and

Fig. 5 is a central, vertical section through the pump and supporttherefor.

My device is of the portable, self-contained type having a suitablecabinet or outer casing 6 formed with an outlet opening I for themoistened air near the top and an inlet opening 8 at the back for airand water. Within the bottom of the casing 6 is a tank 9 for water andextending upwardly from the tank is a large cylindrical well [9, open atits lower end and communicating at its upper end with the outlet opening1 for air. A vertical shaft I I is disposed axially in the well In andis directly driven by an electric motor I2 in which the shaft hasbearings. This motor is supported on a spider having arms [3 and 14extending substantially radially therefrom and bolted to the front andside Walls respectively of the casing 6. The shaft II is hollow ortubular from end to end and has fixed thereon above the motor l2 aseries of fan blades I5. These blades are spaced apart vertically, inpairs, on the shaft H. The upper end [6 of the shaft II is open tosupply water to the surfaces of the fan blades.

Operatively connected to the lower end of the shaft H is a water pump llarranged to draw water from the tank 9 and to deliver it under pressurewithin the shaft and out through upper, open end I 6. Suitable internalconstruction for the pump I1 is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The casingof the pump has an annular opening l8 adjacent to the shaft H. Fixed onthe shaft ll within the casing, is a disk I9 and a series of blades 20,upstanding from said disk and extending from the shaft outward. Anannular space between the outer periphery of the disk l9 and the innersurface of the casing allows water to pass from the upper to the lowerface of said disk. In operation, water enters the opening 18 and isdriven out by centrifugal force on the top of the disk 19, between theblades 20, then down at the outer periphery of the disk [9 and radiallyinward to the opening in shaft ll beneath the disk I9.

The well is preferably a sheet metal cylinder supported on rings 2|which clamp its outer surface and have ends bolted to small anglebrackets 22 mounted on the sides of the casing 6, as best shown in Fig.2. The upper end of the well is fitted with an elbow-like conduit 23 todeliver the moistened air laterally through the opening 7. Within thewell I0 is fixed a helical baffle 24. This baffle is arranged to make aplurality of turns within the well and the lead or pitch of successiveturns diminishes progressively upwardly so that the stream of air isdirected helically and its velocity is somewhat reduced as it passesupward.

Operation In operation, a supply of water is placed in the tank 9 andthe motor I2 is operated so that the blades l5 create an upwardlyswirling stream of air while water is withdrawn from the tank 9 by thepump H and delivered in a stream from the upper end of the shaft H. Thewater so delivered flows down upon successive pairs of blades so thatthe entire surfaces of the blades are moistened. Each of the bladesthrows an excess of water outward against the walls of the Well II]. Myarrangement of spaced fans results in the breaking up of the water intominute particles and a thorough distribution of these particlesthroughout a zone of considerable vertical extent within the well I0,while air admitted through the opening 8 is drawn into the bottom timethe air passes out through the opening 1 it P is substantially saturatedbut all particles of appreciable or objectionable size have been removedtherefrom. Any excess of water, deposited on the surfaces of themechanism in the vapor zone, flows back into the tank 9.

Where radiators are conveniently located in heated buildings, Irecommend placing the humidifier with the back opening 8 adjacent to aradiator so that warm air is supplied to the bottom of the well. Two ormore of the units, comprising the well, motor driven fans, pump andbafile may be placed in a single cabinet, side by side, so that suchunits have a common water supply tank at the bottom. Tests of my deviceshow that a high degree of efiiciency is obtained 7 and the moist air isunusually free of the larger an inlet for air at its lower end, ahollow, axial shaft mounted in said well, means for supplying waterunder pressure to the lower end of said shaft, a series of verticallyspaced fan blades fixed on said shaft within the lower portion of saidwell, said shaft having an outlet opening for Water disposed above theuppermost of said blades to allow flow of water down along the exteriorof said shaft to the several blades, a helical baffle fixed in the upperportion of said well in coaxial relation to said shaft, theco'nvolutions of said baflie being widely spaced and having a pitch suchthat the velocity of the air is not greatly reduced and power-drivenmeans for ro tating said shaft.

HUGO H.

